[lawgirl]

I was afraid of that. But I liked the sentiment anyway.

[Jaysun]

But fellow Republican Joe Barton (Texas) rebuffed Cox's demand, saying an investigation "hardly seems appropriate or necessary."

I'm with Barton on this.

[teletech]

Let the rival press beat up on See BS. Republicans want to stay above the fray and concentrate on their various election races. Enough is being revealed now about the source(s) of these forged documents that I believe the truth will come out shortly.

[clee1]

We don't need no estinkin' investigation. CBS is doing a fine job of sinking their own ship - and they are drowning Kerry at the same time.

[nonkultur]

It was not going to go anywhere just yet, but it has now been placed in the congressional record.

[Centaur]

"I do not personally believe these documents are legitimate, and it seems clear that the press and the two presidential campaigns are properly dealing with that issue," Barton said.

He forgot to mention the PJjournalist brigade. They are so much faster and genuine than any congressional investigation anyhow.

[zeppenwolf]

So Janet's titty deserves an investigation, but forging government documents in an effort to sway a federal election doesn't?

True, congress is not CBS' watchdog, but there's more going on here. Setting a precedent of Shock & Awe Prosecution against those who would blithely forge gov dox hoping to defame a sitting president seems to me like a good idea.

Let them walk, and lord knows what the libs will come up with in 04.

[flying Elvis]

So long as it isn't affecting Bush in the polls, it isn't worth the difficulties involved. I'd wait until after the elections and go after CBS with a vengence.

[smonk]

so, where is the public apology from mcauliff and harkin for using these fake docs as their reason for calling the president a "liar" for three days straight?

[Yaelle]

What about the FCC?

[DC Bound]

I think we can trust at this point that the Old Media will be hastened to irrelevance sooner because of Rathergate. (Someone teach me how to make the "th" superscripted.) But this stopped being about Dan Rather a while ago. A somewhat major news agency, operating on airwaves you and I own, has attempted to throw an election for the office of President. While at war. Economic punishment isn't enough. The people who did this need to go to jail, not just retire with their reputations in tact with their elite liberal pals.

[Bonaparte]

[garylmoore]

I guess he's right, the maindream media is showing its true colors and even ignorant people can see that. Rather will go down in history as being the liberal bias slanted puppet that he is.

[EGPWS]

...it seems clear that the press and the two presidential campaigns are properly dealing with that issue," Barton said.

Well, he has a point there.

It sure would be nice however to see the fear of God in the eyes of those elitist MSM people who consider themselves the 4th branch.

That would at least make them think (term used loosely for some of them) twice before promoting shenanigans which could have an effect on our country which could cause change to be felt for decades to come.

[Anti-Bubba182]

This is probably for the best. Rather would play martyr to the hilt. The Dems would back him up, it is in their interest and a teriffic opportunity for political theater. Sen. Byrd would work up a gale force bluster. Pelosi's head would get more bug eyed than usual and Tom Harkin would belch brimstone. As for Ted Kennedy, the less speculation on a family forum, the better.

As it is, all the heels are spinning nicely in the wind. Let them continue.

[Arnold Zephel]

This whole scandal was obviously orchestrated by the Kerry Campaign, the DNC, or one or more Democrat Activist organizations.

Could someone please explain the legal, moral, and ethical differences between this and the Watergate investigation. Why wouldn't this warrant a congressional investigation? This was an obvious attempt to subvert and malign the President of the United States at a time of war. The fraud they attempted to perpetrate on the American people could very well undermine and change the outcome of the war in Iraq, subsequently costing the lives of service men and innocent Iraqi citizens.

To me this in not merely about the partisanship, bias, fraud and incompetence of Dan Rather and CBS, but it is also about subverting American president and subsequently our military in a time of war. In my humble opinion, this is far worse than anything Richard Nixon did, and President Nixon was humiliated and disgraced by the righteously indignant media to the point of resignation. There were hearings after hearings after hearings about Watergate. Where is the righteous indignation of the MSM today. The best we can get out of them about these forgeries is statements like "alleged" forgeries or "seemingly" forgeries, but no one is calling for congressional hearings or demanding CBS reveal its' sources.

[Paleo Conservative]

Fax# (212) 975-1998

[Timm]

I agree with Barton. Look, this is the U.S. Congress we're talking about, not Vlad Putin. In America, the Congress just doesn't crack down on bad journalists, or lying sources. Freedom isn't free.

Even if you thought otherwise, though, notice that it would be a giant mistake for the Congress to do this on political grounds alone. The last thing the Republicans need is for CBS to be object of sympathy, so that the *other* news agencies who are savaging Rather so gleefully rally to his defense.

[MistyCA]

It served it's purpose! The letter from Congress to CBS is what pushed them to respond tonight. I am not so sure we should have Congress get involved because of their tendancy to turn everything into grandstanding and sound bites! I would rather see the Attorney General take this one on as the legit crime it is.

[pillbox_girl]

"hardly seems appropriate or necessary."

Puh-Freaking-Lease! If the Janet Jackson's Nipple and Howard Stern's are appropriate for congressional attention, why the f*** isn't a blatant fraud intended to manipulate the upcoming election?

All they need to ask is, "Who's your source,Dan?" Even the most callow americans must realize that fraudsters and liars do not warrant protection, and CBS continuing to protect them only implicates CBS.

It has been said the Republican Party is the "Stupid Party". I begin to agree. Thank goodness the Dems have proven to be just slightly more stupid this election. The question is, who will hit the learning curve first?